Professional athletes, government workers, and military personnel are typically the only groups who would come under scrutiny from using these supplements.

In general, drug tests don’t cover testing for anabolic steroids since those tests are not cost-effective.

Different compounds also leave the body at varying rates, so while some supplements leave the system within days, others stick around for up to five months.

Popular Compounds

Because of the government’s role in regulating supplements, certain ingredients no longer appear on the market.

As a result, the following compounds have become accessible for developing muscle mass.

1-Androsterone

1-Andro is an androgen that converts into Stanolone when you ingest it. It reportedly has few side effects, making it a top choice in many formulations. It’s also earned a reputation as a cutting prohormone.

4-Androsterone

Another chemical that changes inside the body is 4-Androsterone, and its status as a bulking compound makes it a high-ranking ingredient in the harcodre supplement formulas.

Epiandrosterone

The compound Epiandrosterone contains androsterone within it, and it converts to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body.

This supplement ingredient is naturally occurring in most mammals and exits the body through urine.

This compound is unique because the DHT it creates inhibits estrogen.

19-Nor-Androsterone

This precursor to active hormones becomes Nandrolone in a two-step conversion process.

Because it acts on different pathways than 1-Androsterone, its use as a stacking prohormone is common.

1,4-androstadiene

1,4-androstadiene is a precursor to Boldione, and it’s highly anabolic. Its traits help promote muscularity, strength, and recovery.

Stacking Pro Hormones

Many individuals stack prohormones for faster results and to target specific goals. Combining multiple supplements puts a massive strain on your body’s systems, so many sources recommend using cycle support and post-cycle products to ensure your body can recover properly.

Most users will stack prohormones for a range of two to three weeks, along with other support supplements.

The primary goal is usually either cutting or bulking, and the goal dictates which combination of prohormones you’ll want to use, along with how often you should take them.

Pro Hormone Side Effects

According to Livestrong, some side effects of prohormones are liver stress, reduced HDL cholesterol, increased blood pressure, acne, and male breast growth.

Because most prohormones have extra molecules that keep them from breaking down in your liver, that organ must work harder.

While prohormones are arguably more “natural” than steroids because they prompt the body to build its own steroidal compounds, they do carry more risks than injectable steroids.

Pro Hormones and PCT

Because your body is receiving testosterone outside its normal production levels, natural production can shut down during prohormone dosing.

PCT manipulates your natural testosterone processes back to normal and helps maintain muscle mass, but concerns about liver health also drive the recommendation that athletes take a recovery period to boost their body’s internal systems.

Some examples of PCT supplements are Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators, Aromatase Inhibitors, and other supplements.